MHS Track and Field Teams Excel at Vermillion

The Bulldogs track and field teams participated in the Vermillion Booster Club Invitational on Thursday, April 6. “It was probably only the second outdoor Class A meet of the season in the state,” commented Eric Townsend, head coach for Milbank. “We have been pretty limited to even being able to practice because of the winter weather and snow cover,” he added. “It was just awesome to run on a track, down a runway, in a ring, and into a mat outdoors.”

According to Townsend, one of the highlights of the meet was Jayden Johnson placing second in the pole vault, just after he tied his own school record in the indoor pole vault with a jump of 13′ 0″ to place second at the meet at SDSU. Townsend said, “Jayden has put in a ton of time in the off-season to make himself into one of the top vaulters in Class A.”

He also mentioned Sam Rick and Layten Osowski, who placed third and fourth, respectively, in the triple jump; James Batchelor, who brought home a fifth-place finish in the 1600-meter run; and Sam Rick for breaking Milbank’s eighth-grade pole vault record.  

Highlights for the girls in the pole vaulting competition included Jacy Dexter’s second-place finish. Maggie Kruger tied her No. 3 Varsity Honor Roll height of 8′ 6″, and Katie Kruger reached her all-time best mark also at  8′ 6″ to move her into the tie for No. 3 on the MHS Varsity Honor Roll. 

Townsend gave kudos to Bianca Berry for winning the 3200-meter run with an outstanding time, and Nadia Thue for placing in the top eight in both hurdles by running her all-time best. He also noted all four Lady Bulldog relay teams are running really good times for this early in the season.
Townsend summed up the Vermillion event with, “Overall, I thought both the boys and girls teams competed hard and showed great promise in an early season meet.” 

What’s next for Milbank? The Bulldogs Track and Field teams head to the Corn Palace Invitational in Mitchell on Saturday, April 15.  On Monday April 17, they travel to Canton to compete in the Canton Relays. 

Results for Milbank at the Vermillion Booster Club Invitational:

Photo By John Davis– Jayden Johnson